Javaid Nayyar, born in Queens, NY, is a self-taught artist whose creative journey draws inspiration from a diverse array of sources. He’s influenced by Islamic art, pop culture, and subcultures like punk rock, hip hop, and skateboarding, as well as historical and political narratives.
Nayyar was awarded a 2024 and 2025 Washington D.C. Commission on Arts & Humanities Fellowship. He was an artist-in-residence at the Selina Hotel (Washington D.C.) and has had solo exhibitions at the Selina Hotel and Homme Gallery. His work has also been exhibited in group shows in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, VA.
At MacDowell, Nayyar worked on paintings exploring the aftermath of the Gulf Wars and 9/11. These paintings are part of a larger series called “Living Room.”
